More than 40 million Americans suffer from varicose veins. For some, varicose veins are a cosmetic nuisance, but for others, they can be quite painful, and could be an indication of other circulatory issues. But what are varicose veins, and how can we really deal with them?

To shed some light on this vascular condition listen to or read the conversation with Dr. Matthew Alef, a vascular surgeon at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and an assistant professor at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine.